Illinois coach Tim Beckman on Monday stood by his decision to recruit Penn State's players following sanctions imposed this summer but said he regretted that it's still an issue. And it likely will be this week as Penn State prepares to open the Big Ten season at Illinois.

After the NCAA sanctioned Penn State and released players to contact other schools, Illinois was among those to send coaches to State College. Beckman said at the Big Ten media day in Chicago that his assistants, who wore Illinois gear, set up shop only off-campus and did not harass players to speak with them.

One player, offensive lineman Ryan Nowicki, transferred from Penn State to Illinois. Several Penn State players criticized Nowicki for being the only player among those who transferred to choose a conference opponent.

Beckman said Monday that Nowicki initiated the contact. He also said that Illinois' coaching staff operated within the NCAA guidelines.

"We had the opportunity to go out and ask young men if they wanted to come to us and say they'd like an opportunity to speak to us," Beckman said. "I think that's what college football is all about. I regret it ended up being this much and is still talked about, but it did give a young man an opportunity to make his decision on what he wanted to do."

Beckman said he's "not big into" bulletin-board material or any perceived motivation Penn State might try to derive from the incident. Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase said he didn't expect it to be an issue, either.

"It can amp you up during the week, but at the end of the day, it's about executing on the field," Scheelhaase said. "After the first hit, the first series, I doubt we will be on the field and they will talk crap about what went on in July."

Beckman said he and O'Brien spoke in Chicago and that he hoped the incident was behind them. That remains to be seen.

At the Big Ten media day, O'Brien said he attended a cocktail social with the conference's coaches. It went well O'Brien said, before adding, "I didn’t say I socialized with everybody."